Fire-escape



(No Model.)

o'. P. MARSKBY.

PIRE ESCAPE. Y No. 278,807. Patented June 5,1883.

@www y a2 y moaw N. PETERS. Phuta-Limagnpher. washington. u, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

CHARLES F. IWIARSKEY, OF EAST SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.'

Fl RE-ES-CAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 278,807, dated June 5, 1883. Application filed March 3, 1883.. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MARsKEv,

a citizen of the United States, residing at East Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw' and State 5' of Michigan, have invented ,certain new and capes in which the operating mechanism isA :o located in a suitable position and contains an attachment for lowering persons and goods from upper stories of buildings and other elevated points.

The object of my invention is the provision of an apparatus whereby persons and goods may bc lowered safely from elevated places, and which shall so operate that upon the removal ofthe load the lowering medium shall return vautomatically to its starting-point in readiness for a renewed descent.

To these ends my invention consists in an apparatus provided with a lowering medium, a pneumatic governor, and a spring'winding mechanism, such devices being so connected4 that when the load is descending the pneumatic governor is acting and the spring winding mechanism is being prepared for action, and when the load is removed the pneumatic governor ceases to act and the spring winding mechanism commences to act and returns the lowering medium to its starting-point, in readiness for a renewed descent, all such functions being performed automatically in consequence of the attachment or detachment ofthe load.

5 In order that my invention may be fully unapparatus, one side of the case thereof ,beingV view of the receptacle or bag.

In the said drawings, A designates the case or housing of my apparatus, which is of rectangular or other suitable shape, and which is provided at its upper end with a ring, a, or

vtion to the band C.

.any other suitable means of suspension. The

casel or housing A is formed preferably of metal-iron or steel-which is in strips or bars a', secured to a skeleton frame, a2, as shown. This metal shell is inclosed in a boxing of wood, c3, as shown in Fig. 3. The housing A is divided into three vertical compartments by two vertical partition-walls, A', as shown in Fig. l, suitable apertures being provided for the admission of air to the regulator, described below.

In the lower part of the central compartment, and extending transversely thereof in a horizontal plane, is a shaft, B, the ends of which are journaled in the partition-walls A' A. Midway of the length of this shaft is a band-pulley, b, which is rigidly attached to said shaft, so as to turn with it. To the' circumference of the pulley b is attached one end of a metallic band or cable, C, said band being coiled upon the pulley and extending downward through an aperture in the bottom of the casing A, as shown, and atits lower endbeing provided with a ring, c, or with any other suitable device for attaching the load.

On the pulley shaft B, at each side 'of the central` pulley, b, are two drums, b', each of which is rigidly secured to said shaft, so as to turn with it. To the periphery of each of these drums is attached the lower end of a metallic band or strap, l, the upper termini of which straps are described below, which are wound upon said drum in an opposite direc- In the upper part of the central compartment is a horizontal shaft, D, the ends of which are journaled in the partition-walls A', so that the shaft shall turn freely. Mounted rigidly upon this shaft D, so as to turn therewith, are two drum-pulleys,d d, each of which is situated in vertical alignment with the corresponding drum, b', on the llower shaft, v

A said end of Vthe spring may be nsecured directly to the walls of the housing A. The upper ends of the bands 1, before mentioned, are at;

tached to the peripheries of the drum-pulleys d, upon which they are coiled in a direction contrary to that in which they are coiled upon IOO v closed by a self-acting valve, e', which freely admits the ingress, but obstructs more r less the exit, of air. Each exhaust-port communicates by a suitable air-duct with a pneumatic alarm, e2, as shown in Fig. l.

Vithin each of the cylinders E works al tight piston, e3, carried upon the upper end of a piston-rod, Ve4, which extends downwardly through the open lower end of the cylinder E, and which at its lower end is journaled to one of two cranks, F. s

Each of the cranks F is journaled in the outer wall of the casing A, and also in the contiguous partition A, said cranks being set oppositely to each other, so as to impart opposite movements to the pistons e: at their inner ends. Each crank F engages with the contiguous end of the shaft B through the medium of a oneway ratchet-clutch,f, as seen in Fig. 2. These clutches are so arranged that when the shaft B is rotated by the descending band or cable C. they are thrown into action, causing the cranks F to revolve with the shaft B, and hence actuate the pneumatic regulator; but when the descent ofthe band is completed and its load Vis removed the shaft B immediately begins to rotate in the opposite direction, under the action of the springs d', and as soon as this reversal of rotation occurs the clutches f cease to act, throwing the cranks F out of gear with the shaft B and causing the regulator to remain inactive.

'G designates an asbestus-lined wire cage or carY forthe reception of the person or persons or goods to belowered, said cage or bag being` attached to the lower end of the band C, either as shown or in any other suitable manner.

The operation of the device need not be described,as it is believed to have been made apparent by the illustration and description.

Apparatus made in accordance with this invention are capable of a great variety of uses simply determined by the proportions of each ering-cord.

It is to be understood that I do not confine myself exclusively to the construction here shown, as I contemplate various modifications; but,

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A fire-escape apparatus consisting of a lowering medium, an apparatus for hoisting `said lowering medium, and a pneumatic reguupon the removal of the load from said lower-'` ing medium.

2. In an automatic fire-escape apparatus, a winding-shaft carrying a lowering-line, and a spring-winding apparatus connected with said winding-shaft in such manner as to, receive and retain its energy by and during the descent of the lowering-line, and to exert its acquired energy in hoisting said line, in combination with a pneumatic regulator operated by the said winding-shaft during the descent of the lowering-line through the medium of a clutch interposed between the winding-shaft and the pneumatic regulator, said clutch being so arranged as to automatically disengage the regu- IOO lator from the winding-shaft upon and during Y the ascent of the lowering-line.

3. The winding-shaft B, provided with a band-pulley, b, and with drums b b, the shaft D, provided with drums (Z and coiled springs d', the lowering-line C, attached to and coiled upon the pulley b, and the bands l, attached each at one end to one of the drums b', upon which it is coiled in a direction opposite to that of the line C, and attached at its opposite end to the corresponding drum-pulley, d', upon which it is coiled in a direction opposite toits ceiling upon the drum b and coincidently with the springs (Z, in combination with the aircylinders E, provided each .with an exhaustopening covered by a self-acting valve, the plungers e3 e* working in said cylinders, and the cranks F, to which said plungers are connected, provided each with a one-way clutchconnection, f, with the winding-shaft B, said shafts, cranks, and cylinders being mounted in a suitable housing or frame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The case or housing herein described, consisting of a suitable backing-frame or skeleton,

an inner metallic shell composed of metal bars or strips secured to said backing-frame, Vand a woodenboxing surrounding said metallic shell.

5. rIhe case or housing, constructed substantially as described, and divided into vertical compartments by suitable vertical partition-walls, A, for the purposes set forth.

IIO

6. In are-escape apparatus7 the combina- 7. The bag or cage G, formed of metallic tion, with a lowering medium and a mechannetting and lined with asbestus. ism for automatically raising said lowering In testimony whereof I ailix mysgnature in medium7 of a pneumatic regulator arranged presence of two witnesses.

5 to act during the descent of the lowering medium, the said pneumatic regulator being provided with one or more pneumatic alarms placed in communication with the exhaust- Witnesses: ports of the air-cylinders of said regulatorz CEAS. E. CAMP,

1o substantially as and for the purposes set forth. S. G. HIGGINS.

CHARLES F. MARSKEY. 

